I can't cope with the school run anymore!!

[PapayaCoconut]

I don't drive. (Have a tiny breastfeeding baby, so won't be able to learn until she's older.) DH works looong hours. DD (5) just started school 20-25 minutes walk away.

I just can't do it anymore! DD is so tired some days I have to drag her scooter with one arm and push her sister's pram with the other. In the rain if I'm unlucky.

I'm seriously thinking about hiring a taxi to take us every day... 😖 AIBU?

Usually you can't get a taxi for love nor money at school run times because they're all pre-booked for regular school runs (eg for kids going to special schools). So though that would be a lovely back up plan be aware that it's probably not available. Finding someone who can help with a lift on the direst days would be better. And definitely a buggy board for the nicer days

I'd get one of these instead of a buggy board because it would be easier on your back.

It's all well and good to say "In my day we walked..." but who cares? It's no fun being out in the wet and cold with a tired, miserable child whining that they can't go any further. OP needs to make it as easy as she possibly can now. Her daughter can build up her stamina in the Spring and Summer

Where I live there are almost no taxis available for the school run, as they are already on a contract with the council to take children to school.

I’d try a childminder who can drive the morning drop-off. That would give you a more relaxed morning and more time with the baby. Cheaper than a taxi, too.

My neighbor learned to drive just after she'd had a baby, her instructor would come and she'd strap the car seat into the car and off she'd go. I was well impressed.

It would be good if you could find another parent who walks the same route and take it in turns to walk eachother's kids to school so that you get some mornings off, plus walking with another kid might make yours complain less (even if they do piss around a bit when walking together)

Or, you could cycle with some combination of baby seat, towbar, or trailer to transport the kids. Would be faster.

OR move to Switzerland where 5 year olds walk themselves to school independently without a grown up

Similar position to you op, but I have 3 to get to school (8,7 and 5) plus baby in pram. Honestly driving is a must, I’m saving up to do my lessons. There is a bus near me but people who are saying bus must not realise how bloody packed they are in the morning. Most times we can’t get on as it’s full so end up having to miss a few, I take the pram as I’ve tried slings and honestly I just can’t get on with them I really dislike them. Can’t wait till I’m driving.

I’d like to add another voice to the folk suggesting cycling!

Lots of different options that would be possible for you!

When I had a baby and preschooler I had a set up like this cupofjo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/best-bike-seats-for-kids-nyc.jpg which worked well for us for years, until my youngest was 3 ish! By that time my eldest was able to cycle next to us.

But a bike trailer would also work, or a cargo bike. And if you have hills to worry about then an e-bike would take care of them.

Much cheaper than a car and lessons, much more fun, better for your health (physical and mental) and better for the environment.

There’s loads of options, just google “cycling with children” and you’ll see. Here’s a start. thismombikes.net/ways-to-carry-kids-by-bike/. Lots of the options will grow with your child!

Good luck

Scooters and balance bikes are a nightmare on the school run! There really does seem to have been a move away from teaching children to just walk. I've worked as a childminder for years and it's only recently that the school run has become more difficult due to kids who spend their lives on wheels, who are then unable/ unwilling to walk beside a pushchair for 20 minutes. Not only is it easier to keep children safe this way (I've seen a few scoot out into the road because they're too far ahead of their parents), it's better for them developmentally too. They NEED to walk and run.

Having said that, I agree that a buggy board is a good temporary compromise until the five-year-old is better at walking. I'm fairly sure removing the ankle-smashing scooter from the equation will make a world of difference!

What time does your husband go to work?
Does the school do breakfast club?
If it's at the right time maybe your little one could be dropped off by your husband and do breakfast club a few days a week?

I’m also going to suggest a buggy board. I used one when my DS was 5.
Also, maybe get DD up a bit earlier in the mornings so she has time to come round and you’re not rushing? My kids like at least 30 minutes to eat breakfast and watch TV before I can attempt to get them dressed.

Also, how about playing some music from your phone when walking? We used to have a morning playlist that DS would sing along to. It was never loud enough to annoy anyone else.
I would leave the scooter at home. It’s something else to carry/push.

To be honest, if your daughter won't/can't actually propel the scooter herself without being dragged, then I'd not let her use it on the commute. You aren't a shire horse!

Double buggy, 100%. I'd still have a pram now for DC aged 9 if I could get away with it to hang the shopping on

Agree with PP re scooter - my DD is the same so I don’t let her use it to school. I’m guessing you’re unable to do a driving crash course due to EBF? If there’s any way you can do it, they’re great - I did one and passed test after 5 days.

Expensive but cargo bike that you can all get in? No bus? I had a Phil and Ted's buggy and used to stick the big one in the bottom till they were quite big on rainy/tired days. Been there it's hard work. x

Scooters and balance bikes are a nightmare on the school run

Yes I find it really odd that kids can't use their legs anymore. Even in Central London you have kids on scooters near schools, utterly ludicrous in a busy area in rush hour.

I would suggest one of the big Dutch bikes with the "crate" in front, you can put both kids in there and cycle. It will be heavy but much lighter on the way back. Not sure how much they cost.

And yes to automatic driving lessons. Given we are gradually moving to electric and hybrid cars, people won't have manuals in a few years anyway. You can get automatic hire cars easily enough if you are eg on holiday.

I’ve been through this and it was really hard. Having a newborn is hard enough. Be kind to yourself. I’d prioritise things that will make your life easier now, rather than adding the pressure of trying to learn to drive when you are sleep deprived.
Good long coats that are actually waterproof, comfortable footwear, a buggy you can push one handed (we liked the Nipper 360), a scooter hook for the buggy (and/or a scooter lock so you can leave it in a bike rack), snacks, a good baby carrier, adjustable height 3 wheel scooter so it’s easier to comfortably drag.
And absolutely a taxi whenever you can afford it and it will make life easier. Personally, I wasn’t comfortable using taxis without car seats, so that wasn’t an option we used.
There are lots of options and you’ll probably need different ones to see you through until the youngest is at school.
It’s a massive chunk of your day, so do whatever you can to make it easier for everyone.

Morning. Ah bless you. Sounds similar to me. I have a mile walk with a pushchair and a four year old. It's tiring in bad weather. Some days are worse than others. My DD is fairly good at waking so we don't do too bad.

I am sure you do these things but snacks are a winner/bribe for me. I vary it so she sometimes gets fruit, sometimes chocolate, sometimes a smoothie and sometimes a kinder egg.

I know it's irritating and stuff but you have to keep going and it will get better as she gets older. This first couple of terms is going to be hard as the weather is bad..all the kids have colds etc. I do feel your pain as my oh works 90 miles away most days. Sometimes I wish someone could take over. Its full on.

I always treat myself to a nice coffee and half hour of Tele when i get back. A mini reward before I start the housework lol

@Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g is correct: I would just like to clarify that I have not had triplets nor did I EBF them while wading through snow on a 14 mile walk to school. . I do know someone who did EBF triplets though and was hugely impressed.

My post was completely ironic as there are some really unkind comments on here. The OP has just had a baby and was looking at some support and sensible suggestions.

OP - there are some CRAZY posts on here. I hope you manage to sort through them all. In the meantime, I would still suggest a second hand double buggy. Make life easy on yourself. I have 3 children and my youngest, despite being October born so old in his year, was exhausted when he first started school. She’s only 5, school wears them out at this age.

Why would you worry if she’s too big for a buggy board? You’re considering getting a taxi so that she doesn’t have to walk. A buggyboard would save money, mean you still get fresh air and have the option of walking so exercise.

People on here are so weird about buggies and age limits.

She’s only 5, school wears them out at this age

See this is where I think we need to be careful. A lot of children already go to /have been to nursery or child minders full time before they start school.

Many will have done full days in pre school and then off ro child minders if they werrnt in a nursery.

School usually starts off slowly. A few weeks of 2 hours here 2 hours there etc

I'm not saying the first few weeks at school dont wear them out at all, but afternoons at school are often just playing. In the summer they spend a couple if hours down the park after school on top .

I do think we need to stop and think a bit about whether they are eating or sleeping properly and what we can do to make it a bit easier on them so they arent rushing around so much, rather than assume it's just tiredness. And think about whether the level of tiredness is concerning or not.

book multiple driving lessons on your DH non working days - lumps of time are more effective for most to learn - yes to automatic being easier.... express and he can feed babe ..
in the meantime slings are great -
what pushchair have you got? could dd sit in it? cos maybe coming home you sling/she sits but going buggy board
I woudl try a buggy board first she can hop on/off ...

No wonder this generation is going to die before their parents if a 25min walk is unfathomable.

I can't believe the responses on this thread.

OP, if a friend or relative of mine, actually even a mum I knew well enough to talk to was struggling like this I would be happy to help out with school runs, honestly. At least while your youngest is so tiny and on the bad weather days.

Have you voiced this to anyone who might be able to do this?

To my mind, I wish someone had offered when I was struggling in that position, so I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t help when I could.

Children's stamina changes a lot in yR.

I ended up getting a tandem buggy for a large scale camp when mine were 2&4 having got that far on my original singles and carriers as back up, but I needed the change of strategy for spending a week constantly traipsing 1/2 a mile back and forth across a hilly field. Come September and my 4yo was happy to hop in the bottom for the school run on soggy mornings. He obviously wasn't going to dissolve, but starting the day in soggy clothes is no fun. He was used to longer days at nursery, but the pace of school was more intense and more overwhelming on the senses. He struggled with the introduction of formal learning. It turns out he has dyslexia and dyspraxia and the struggle is real.

I look after a friend's child. He wasn't used to walking functionally for pace and despite it being a very short walk, at the start of yR it was slow, frustrating going. By the end of the year. He'd had a good growth spurt and his speed massively improved and now jogs in every day.

At junior parkruns, the new 4 yos do a lot of slow walking with fast bursts that tire them out. By 5, they learn to pace themselves and go more steadily so they can run all.

If life is easier for putting a 4-5 yo in the pram so you can walk somewhere on a sensible timescale, do it. No one blinks at children doing short journeys door to door in the car. The child in the pram has the advantage that walking is a functional activity and it will come to them with a bit of patience.

In the 1950s, my great-grandma's GP saw no issue thst my great-uncle still wanted to sit in the pram because his legs got tired